DATE=5/26/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249833
TITLE=CONGRESS-CHINA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CONGRESS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CONGRESSMEN WHO LED AN OFFICIAL INQUIRY INTO CHINESE
ESPIONAGE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE BRIEFING COLLEAGUES ON THEIR
FINDINGS. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, THEY ARE URGING MEMBERS
OF THE HOUSE (OF REPRESENTATIVES) AND SENATE TO TAKE SWIFT ACTION
TO TIGHTEN EXPORT CONTROLS ON CERTAIN PRODUCTS WITH MILITARY
APPLICATIONS.
TEXT: THE SPECIAL PANEL SET UP TO INVESTIGATE CHINESE ESPIONAGE
HAS COMPLETED ITS WORK, AND ITS MEMBERS ARE CALLING ON CONGRESS
TO ACT QUICKLY.
THE FOCUS NOW MOVES TO THE REGULAR COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATURE,
WHICH MUST DRAFT THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE, (NEW YORK) REPUBLICAN
BENJAMIN GILMAN, SAYS A BILL TO TIGHTEN CONTROLS ON EXPORTS OF
HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTERS IS A PRIORITY.
/// GILMAN ACT ///
WE DO HAVE A PROVISION IN OUR SECURITY ASSISTANCE BILL,
ALREADY APPROVED BY THIS COMMITTEE AND AWAITING FLOOR
ACTION, THAT REESTABLISHES HIGHER PENALTIES FOR
VIOLATION OF THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION ACT.
/// END ACT ///
(CALIFORNIA) CONGRESSMAN CHRISTOPHER COX, WHO LED THE INQUIRY
INTO CHINESE SPYING, SAYS THIS BILL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
STEPS CONGRESS CAN TAKE. BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGES SUCH ACTION WILL
HAVE LITTLE IMPACT UNLESS THE UNITED STATES CAN CONVINCE ITS
ALLIES TO GO ALONG.
/// COX ACT ///
ANYTHING ELSE WE DO WILL BE INEFFECTIVE IF WE TRY AND GO IT
ALONE. THE UNITED STATES IS NOT THE WORLD. WE CAN HELP LEAD
THE WORLD, BUT EVEN AS BIG AS OUR ECONOMY IS, THERE ARE OTHERS
WHO WILL FILL IN THE GAPS.
/// END ACT ///
MR. COX CHAIRED AN INVESTIGATORY PANEL MADE UP OF NINE LAWMAKERS,
FIVE REPUBLICANS AND FOUR DEMOCRATS. BY ALL ACCOUNTS, THEY
WORKED IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION AND PRODUCED A REPORT ALL COULD
ENDORSE.
BUT POLITICAL PASSIONS REMAIN A FACT OF LIFE ELSEWHERE ON CAPITOL
HILL. WHEN MR. COX AND THE RANKING DEMOCRAT ON THE CHINA
INQUIRY, NORMAN DICKS, WENT BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ASIA (TODAY/WEDNESDAY), TENSIONS WERE HIGH.
ALL THE LAWMAKERS IN THE ROOM PRAISED THEIR REPORT. BUT THEY
DIFFERED ON WHO IS TO BLAME FOR THE ESPIONAGE, AND THE SUBSEQUENT
BREACH OF U-S SECURITY.
ALTHOUGH THE THEFT OF MILITARY SECRETS APPARENTLY OCCURRED OVER
DECADES, SOME REPUBLICANS ARE FOCUSING SOLELY ON THE FAILINGS OF
THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE. THE TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE ASIA
SUBCOMMITTEE, TOM LANTOS (OF CALIFORNIA), SAYS THE WORK OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATORS DESERVES A MORE DIGNIFIED RESPONSE.
/// LANTOS ACT ///
I DEEPLY REGRET THAT THEIR OUTSTANDING JOB IS BEING
OVERSHADOWED BY SOME OF THE SHABBIEST, CHEAPEST, MOST
EXTREME AND OUTRAGEOUS PARTISAN INTERPRETATIONS OF THEIR
VERY BIPARTISAN INVESTIGATION.
/// END ACT ///
(CALIFORNIA) REPUBLICAN DANA ROHRABACHER SAID THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE SINGLED OUT. HE SAYS TOP OFFICIALS
ENGAGED IN A COVER-UP.
/// ROHRABACHER ACT ///
THE ONLY THING CHEAP AND VULGAR THAT I HAVE WITNESSED
HAS BEEN THE DEMOLITION OF OUR COUNTRY'S NATIONAL
SECURITY UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION.
/// END ACT ///
THE AUTHORS OF THE REPORT ON CHINESE ESPIONAGE SAID THEY HOPED
THEIR FINDINGS WOULD NOT IGNITE PARTISAN BICKERING.
CONGRESSMAN COX URGED MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES TO REMEMBER THEY
ARE IN AGREEMENT ON TWO POINTS: THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND IT MUST
BE FIXED. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/LTD/WTW
26-May-99 2:54 PM EDT (1854 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
